Protect Yourself from Skin Cancer with these Sun Protection Tips

In 2007 alone over 1 million cases of skin cancer were diagnosed in the United States. This is according to the American Cancer Society. (Tweet this stat)

Proper preventive care may have helped avoided a huge number of these cases.

Sunscreen is an essential key in protecting yourself against the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays including skin cancer. However, proper sun protection involves more than just slathering some sunscreen lotion on your skin once you get to the beach.

Here are a few tips that will help keep your skin healthy and protected against the damaging effects of the sun’s UV rays such as wrinkles, sunburn and more importantly skin cancer.

Skin Cancer: Sun Protection Tips

Do you still think that you only need to lather on sunscreen when outdoors? The truth is you need to lather on sunscreen even when you would be staying indoors. Glass windows are able to protect you against UVB rays which are responsible for sunburns but UVA rays can still penetrate. UVA rays can result to wrinkles and brown spots. So on days that you would be staying in or driving a lot, remember to lather on sunscreen lotion as UVA rays are able to penetrate windshields and windows.

2. It’s not just the skin on your face that needs protection. (Tweet this)

Many people are guilty of this. You should lather on sunscreen in all of your skin areas especially those that are usually exposed under the sun. It’s not just your face that is exposed every day to the sun’s UV rays. Your hands, forearms, décolletage, lips, and ears, also receive sun exposure so you should not forget lathering on sunscreen on these areas. These areas are also prone to developing melanomas.

3. Don’t think that waterproof or water resistant sunscreens last longer. (Tweet this)

Water-proof and water resistant sunscreen formulas may last longer than the normal sunscreen lotions however they wear off after 30 minutes or even less than that when you are in the water or after perspiring heavily. They may also easily wear off when you towel dry after a dip. So make sure that you reapply after excessive sweating or after being in water.

The shade may cool you down but don’t think that it offers any form of protection against the sun’s UV rays. The sun’s rays can penetrate through clouds, umbrellas, straw shades, sand, water, and other reflective surfaces. So even when the skies are overcast, make sure that you lather on sunscreen still. Even during the winter season, you need to keep on wearing sunscreen as snow can reflect 80% of the sun’s UV rays.